Difference between .bash_profile and .bashrc Files

One of the things you always have trouble remembering when working with linux is what is the correct “.profile” to edit when you want to automatically set environmental variables.

According to the bash man page, .bash_profile is executed for login shells, while .bashrc is executed for interactive non-login shells.

when you login when using a console, either physically at the machine or using ssh, .bash_profile is executed.

However, if you launch a terminal within a windowing system such as GNOME,KDE, launch the Emacs *shell* mode, or execute /bin/bash from within another terminal then .bashrc is executed.

Read more at Debian Admin